Collapsible trailer

ABSTRACT

A trailer designed to be towed behind an automobile or the like and comprising a plurality of components including a base, side wall means surrounding the base, a top, a tow bar and a pair of spring loaded axis. The majority of the components which comprise the trailer are removably attached to the base or to one another such that each of the components may be disconnected from their assembled position and stored on the base of the trailer. The top and the base may be connected directly to each other to define a storage compartment in which the various components are placed such that the trailer may be shipped or transported by means other than towing.

United States Patent [191 Rimbey COLLAPSIBLE TRAILER [75] Inventor:Donald H. Rimbey, Temple Terrace,

Fla.

[73] Assignee: Helen A. Shook, Tampa, Fla.

[22] Filed: May 13, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 143,009

[52] US. Cl. 280/30, 52/66, 296/27 [51] Int. Cl. ..B60p 3/34 [58] Fieldof Search ..296/10, 27', 280/30,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 51 May 22,1973

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 80,139 10/1955 Denmark ..296/27 290,8875/1969 Australia...

[57] ABSTRACT A trailer designed to be towed behind an automobile or thelike and comprising a plurality of components including a base, sidewall means surrounding the base, a top, a tow bar and a pair of springloaded axis. The majority of the components which comprise the trailerare removably attached to the base or to one another such that each ofthe components may be disconnected from their assembled position andstored on the base of the trailer. The top and the base may be connecteddirectly to each other to define a storage compartment in which thevarious components are placed such that the trailer may be shipped ortransported by means other than towing.

l 1 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEL m 2 2 m5 SHEET 2 0r 2 DONALD H.RIMBEY ATTORNEY.

COLLAPSIBLE TRAILER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of theInvention This invention relates to a collapsible trailer wherein aplurality of the components from which the trailer is formed may bedisconnected from their assembled po sition and stored in a compartmentdefined by the top and base of the trailer. I

2. Description of the Prior Art In recent years, the use of trailerswhich are designed to be towed by conventional automobiles has becomevery popular for hauling various types of goods. A number of companieshave gone into business of leasing these trailers to people who wish totransport goods over either a short or long distance. It is customaryfor the user of such a trailer to lease the trailer at one location,transport his goods to a second desired location and then return thetrailer to the leasing companys agent at this second location. It isobvious in such a leasing type of arrangement that a plurality oftrailers must be available at numerous locations throughout the country.To maintain an equal distribution of trailers it is often timesnecessary for a leasing company to transport the empty trailers to theirvarious points of origin. Due to the structure and design ofconventional trailers it -has been the practice to transport thesetrailers by towing, in the same manner in which they were delivered bythose utilizing the trailers. This of course is very expensive in that anumber of towing vehicles must necessarily be maintained by the leasingcompany in order to tow the various trailers back to their place oforigin. This expense is of course reflected in the amount of moneycharged one who desires to lease such trailers. Also, the additionalhauling of the trailers results in reduced life of the trailer since itis being towed both to and from the place of origin.

In an effort to overcome the existing problems in conventionallydesigned trailers, an attempt has been made to design trailers toinclude collapsible portions which may be stored directly on the trailerbase. However, such design has resulted in relatively complex SUMMARY OFTHE INVENTION This invention relates to a trailer which has a pluralityof removably connected components designed to be disconnected from theiroperable position and stored in a compact compartment formed byconnecting the top of the trailer directly to the base.

More specifically, the trailer comprises a substantially planar basewhich has upwardly extending side wall means removably connected to themajority of its peripheral edge. The side wall means may comprise aplurality of sheets made from aluminum or any other acceptable material.The trailer further includes a fiberglass top having a substantiallyshell-like configuration wherein the sides of the top terminate anL-shaped flange. This flange is designed to removably engage thesimilarly shaped upper extremity of the side wall means. The side wallmeans further includes a door or the like which is removably mounted atthe rear of the trailer and is removably connected to both theperipheral edges of the base and top in the same manner as the rest ofthe sheets comprising the side wall.

A tow bar is provided on the trailer, which is removably connected tothe under carriage of the trailer in such a manner that it may berigidly attached to the trailer to provide a safe means of towing.

The trailer further includes running gear which comprises a springloaded full axle removably connected to the underside of the trailerapproximately midway between the front and rear of the trailer.Conventional tires may be mounted on the wheels which are connected tothis axle and the fact that the axle is spring loaded provides thetrailer with a relatively smooth, cushioned ride.

When used to transport various goods, the trailer is towed between itsoriginal point and any desired point where the user of the trailerdesires to deliver such goods. At this second distant point the traileris then delivered to an agent of the leasing company. If it is desiredto return the trailer to its point of origin, the trailer isdisassembled and shipped back rather than being towed back in the samemanner in which it was delivered. More specifically, the tires, thespring loaded axle and tow bar are all removably disconnected from theiroperative positions and arranged on the planar base of the trailer.Next, the side wall means including the rear door are removablydisconnected from both the top and peripheral edge of the base andplaced over the axle, tow bar and wheels. The side wall means areconfigured such that they may be arranged in a nested fashion over theother components already in place on the base of the trailer. Finally,the top of the trailer is placed over the components arranged on thebase. The top is attached such that its peripheral edge is joined to theperipheral edge of the base. Consequently, a sturdy, compact storagecompartment is formed to provide efficient and inexpensive shippingand/or storing of the trailer when not in actual use.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction,combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will beexemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope ofthe invention will be indicated in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a fuller understanding of thenature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to thefollowing detailed description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the trailer of the pres ent invention inits assembled operable state.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1 showing themeans of connecting the side wall to the top and base.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the rear door of the trailer.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the trailer in its stored position.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the interior of the trailer and thecomponents arranged in their stored position.

P16. 6 is a top plan view of the trailer in its assembled DETAILEDDESCRIPTION As shown in FIG. 1, the trailer generally indicated at 10comprises a substantially planar base 12 having side wall means 14removably attached to its peripheral edge, as will be hereinafterexplained. The trailer further comprises a top 16 having a substantiallyshell-like configuration and including a plurality of reinforcing ribs18 integrally molded into the top. The walls of the top terminate in asubstantially L-shaped flange designed to engage the upper extremity ofthe side wall means 14.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, flange 20 is fonned along theentire peripheral edge of top 16 and is designed to engage a similarlyformed lL-shaped flange 22 defined at the upper extremity of the sidewall means 14. The top, side wall and base may be all removablyconnected together by any adequate means as shown in FIG. 2. In thisparticular embodiment a long tie bolt 23 including formed head 24 andthreaded portion 25, located at opposite extremities thereof,interconnects all three pieces. As shown the peripheral edge of the basecomprises a substantially U-shaped channel 28 designed to engage thelower extremity 30 of the side wall means 14. Bolt 23 extends throughaligned apertures in flanges 20 and 22 of the top and side respectivelyand through apertures in flange 30, U-shaped channel 28 and hollow beam42 of the base. A wing nut 34 or the like may be removably attached tothe threaded end of the bolt to secure it in locking engagement withthese elements. Hollow, vertically arranged tubes 41 act as stiffeningmeans and also serve to enclose the tie bolts 23. It should also benoted that a planar surface 44 is also mounted on beam 42 and comprisesthe load bearing surface of the base.

FIG. 3 shows the rear door generally indicated as 46 which may beconsidered part of the side wall means 14. The rear door is connected tothe rear of the trailer between the top 16 and the trailer edge of base12 in a manner similar to that as explained with reference to thestructure of FIG. 2. The door 46 includes a locking means which isessentially a conventional turn buckle. Rotating handle 48 operates twolaterally moving slide bolts 50 and 52 for securing the door 46 in alocking or unlocked position.

As shown both in FIGS. 1 and 6 a tow bar 54 is connected to the frame ofthe base and is arranged to extend outwardly from the front of thetrailer so as to be positioned to be connected to a towing vehicle suchas an automobile or the like. A conventional cup or socket 56 isprovided to be used in cooperation with a conventional type hitch. Crosssupport beam 58 and 60 are welded onto tow bar 54 and the beams and maintow bar are removably connected to support beams 62, 64 and 66respectively.

The running gear of the trailer is also depicted in FlGS. 1 and 6 andcomprises a full axle assembly generally indicated at 67. The axleassembly is spring loaded at each end 68 and 70 by means of coil springs72 and 74 which are arranged to provide an easier ride to the vehicle.Wheels 76 and 78 are mounted on the axle assembly. Conventional trailertires 80 are mounted on the wheels.

With the exception of the support beams 42, 62, 64, 66 and 67 and theplanar surface 44, all of the components which comprise the trailer areremovably attached either to one another or directly to the base itself.When desired, a trailer may be disassembled, by disconnecting each ofthe members. For storage or shipping, the respective components may thanbe arranged in any convenient manner on planar surface 44 of base 12.More specifically, the conventional tires 80, tow bar assembly 54, 56,60 and spring axle assembly 67 may first be arranged on the planarsurface 44 as shown in FIG. 5. Next, the individual sheet which make upthe side wall means 14 are disassembled from both the peripheral edgesof the top and base and arranged in nested fashion on the planar surface44 in such a manner as to cover the components already arranged thereon.The side wall sheets are so configured so that they may be arranged incooperative nested fashion in order to save additional space duringstorage and shipping. When all of the components are properlypositioned, the top 16 is positioned over the assembled components so asto define a storage compartment with the base itself.

Referring back to FIG. 2 the top and base may be removably connected toone another in that flange 20 is specifically configured to cooperatewith U-shaped channel 28 in the same fashion that the lower extremity ofside wall means 14 cooperates. Any applicable connecting means may beextended through apertures 35, 36, 38 and 40 arranged in the peripheraledges, and beam 42 of the top and base respectively.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those madeapparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and,since certain changes may be made in the above construction withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention, it is intended that allmatter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanyingdrawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended tocover all of the generic and specific features of the invention hereindescribed, and all statements of the scope of the invention, which as amatter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Now that the invention has been described,

What is claimed is:

1. A trailer comprising: a plurality of components including a basehaving a substantially planar platform, side wall means removablyattached to said base, a top removably connected to said side wallmeans, a running gear assembly removably attached to said base insupporting relation thereto, tow means attached to said baseso as toprovide a means by which said trailer may be towed, said top and saidbase removably connectable to one another so as to define a containerdirectly connected to one another in which each of said plurality ofcomponents may be collectively stored when disconnected from saidvehicle, the upper peripheral edge of said base comprising a channel,said side wall means including an upper and lower edge both of whichcomprise an L-shaped configuration, said lower edge removably mountedwithin said channel, said top including a lower peripheral edge havingan L-shaped configuration, said upper and lower edges of said wall meanslower peripheral edge of said top each being -correspondingly configuredto one another, such that said lower edges of both said top and saidwall means are removably attached in said channel, said configuration ofsaid lower edge of said top and said upper edge of said wall meanscorrespondingly configured so as to be removably connected to oneanother.

2. A trailer as in claim 1 further comprising connecting means forinterconnecting to one another said top, base and side means.

3. A trailer as in claim 1 wherein said connecting means comprises abolt engaging in looking relation cooperatively positioned portionsof-said top, base and side wall means, said bolt arranged to extendthrough both thelower peripheral edge of said top and the upper edge ofsaid side wall means and having a sufficient longitudinal dimension toextend through the lower edge of said side wall and said channel.

4. trailer as in claim 1 wherein both the lower peripheral edge of saidtop and the upper edge of said side wall means comprise a substantiallyL-shaped configuration including an outwardly extending flange arrangedin supporting relation to one another.

5. A trailer as in claim 1 wherein said running gear comprises at leastone spring loaded axle removably connected to the undersurface of saidbase, whereby said axle may be disconnected and stored on the planarsurfaceof said base.

6. trailer as in claim 1 wherein said running gear comprises a springloaded wheel assembly removably connected to opposite extremities ofsaid axle, whereby said wheel assemblies may be disconnected and storedon said base.

7. A trailer as in claim 1 wherein said tow means comprises a tow barremovably connected to the underside of said base and being of such adimension as to be capable of being stored within the container definedby said base and said top.

8. A trailer as in claim 1 wherein said side wall means comprises a doorremovably attached to both said top and said base and including lockingmeans for securing said door in a closed position.

9. A trailer as in claim 8 wherein said trailer comprises connectingmeans and further include support means comprising a plurality of hollowtube members directly engaging said side wall substantially along theirentire length, said tubes configured to at least partially surround saidconnecting means when said top, side wall means and base are removablyconnected to one another.

10; A trailer as in claim 1 wherein strengthening means is formed insaid top in spaced predetermined UNITED STATES PATENT OFFEQE CER'NFFCATEU? 0RECTEON Patent No. 3,734,525 Dated ay 22, 1973 Donald H. RimbeyInventor(s) It is certified that error appears in the above-identifiedpatent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 3, line 39, "stiffening" should read support line 39, after"means" insert to stiffen or support side walls 14 Signed and sealedthis 26th day of February 1974.

(SEAL) Attest;

EDWARD M.FLET( IHE R,JR. (j MARSHALL DANN Attestlng Offlcer Commissionerof Patents ORM PO-1050 uscoMM-oc 60376-P69 i U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTINGOFFICE "l0 O-JG-SS.

1. A trailer comprising: a plurality of components including a basehaving a substantially planar platform, side wall means removablyattached to said base, a top removably connected to said side wallmeans, a running gear assembly removably attached to said base insupporting relation thereto, tow means attached to said base so as toprovide a means by which said trailer may be towed, said top and saidbase removably connectable to one another so as to define a containerdirectly connected to one another in which each of said plurality ofcomponents may be collectively stored when disconnected from saidvehicle, the upper peripheral edge of said base comprising a channel,said side wall means including an upper and lower edge both of whichcomprise an L-shaped configuration, said lower edge removably mountedwithin said channel, said top including a lower peripheral edge havingan L-shaped configuration, said upper and lower edges of said wall meansand said lower peripheral edge of said top each being correspondinglyconfigured to one another, such that said lower edges of both said topand said wall means are removably attached in said channel, saidconfiguration of said lower edge of said top and said upper edge of saidwall means correspondingly configured so as to be removably connected toone another.
 2. A trailer as in claim 1 further comprising connectingmeans for interconnecting to one another said top, base and side means.3. A trailer as in claim 1 wherein said connecting means comprises abolt engaging in locking relation cooperatively positioned portions ofsaid top, base and side wall means, said bolt arranged to extend throughboth the lower peripheral edge of said top and the upper edge of saidside wall means and having a sufficient longitudinal dimension to extendthrough the lower edge of said side wall and said channel.
 4. A traileras in claim 1 wherein both the lower peripheral edge of said top and theupper edge of said side wall means comprise a substantially L-shapedconfiguration including an outwardly extending flange arranged insupporting relation to one another.
 5. A trailer as in claim 1 whereinsaid running gear comprises at least one spring loaded axle rEmovablyconnected to the undersurface of said base, whereby said axle may bedisconnected and stored on the planar surface of said base.
 6. A traileras in claim 1 wherein said running gear comprises a spring loaded wheelassembly removably connected to opposite extremities of said axle,whereby said wheel assemblies may be disconnected and stored on saidbase.
 7. A trailer as in claim 1 wherein said tow means comprises a towbar removably connected to the underside of said base and being of sucha dimension as to be capable of being stored within the containerdefined by said base and said top.
 8. A trailer as in claim 1 whereinsaid side wall means comprises a door removably attached to both saidtop and said base and including locking means for securing said door ina closed position.
 9. A trailer as in claim 8 wherein said trailercomprises connecting means and further include support means comprisinga plurality of hollow tube members directly engaging said side wallsubstantially along their entire length, said tubes configured to atleast partially surround said connecting means when said top, side wallmeans and base are removably connected to one another.
 10. A trailer asin claim 1 wherein strengthening means is formed in said top in spacedpredetermined relation to one another.
 11. A trailer as in claim 10wherein said top has a substantially shell-like configuration whereinthe volume of the container defined by said top and said base beingconnected to one another substantially equals the volume of said top,each of said strengthening means comprising indentation means integrallyformed in said top.